Strathspey and the Cairngorms

Head south from Inverness on a 30 min. drive into Strathspey. Drive through some lovely villages surrounded by dense pine forests. First stop is Nethy Bridge to see the ancient Castle Roy and a chance to get up close to Murdo, the resident Highland coo! Next head up the ski road to about 3000ft to the funicular which takes you just below the summit of Cairngorm, on a clear day, amazing views. Next we head down to Loch Morlich, one of the highest lochs in the UK, with an amazing sandy beach and great views of the mountains. After lunch we make our way to Ruthven Barracks, impressive ruins from the Jacobite struggles of the 1700s. Next stop is the Highland Folk Museum which tells the story of Highland life from the 1700s to about 1930, a fascinating place. There's a chance to visit a distillery or two if folk are interested. A nice leisurely drive takes us back to Inverness.